Refrigerator cabinet construction



Jan. 31, 1950 J. w. NDRRISH EIAL REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1948 INVENTOR. JOHN W. NORP/SH. ALFRED E.NA VE. BY

Qlena .42 M144. A rm Jan. 31, 1950 J. w. NORRISH EI'AL REFRIGERATORCABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 2a, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmvron. JOHN WNORR/SH. BY ALFRED 5.1m v5.

QM/x, 40. T @MJL Jam. 3%, 1950 J. w. NORRISH ETAL REFRIGERATOR CABINETCONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 2a, 1948" 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOHN MNOR/P/SH. ALFRED E. NAVE.

Patented J... 31, 1950 nnrmoam'roa oanma'r cons'rnuc'rron John W.Norrlsh, Lockland, and Alfred E. Nave,

Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to Avco Manufacturing Corporation.Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application December 28,1948, Serial No. 67,688

Claims. 1

This invention relates to refrigerators and more particularly torefrigerators of the household type having a readily removable partitionadapted to divide the cabinet into two compartments, one compartmenthaving an evaporator disposed therein and providing a freezing chamber,and the other compartment providing a refrigerated chamber for storingfoods at above freezing temperatures.

More specifically, this invention relates to an improved partition whichis relatively inexpensive to manufacture, to the manner in which thepar-,

tition is mounted within the cabinet, and to features whereby thepartition is peculiarly adapted to support a pan disposed immediatelybelow the partition.

The partition of this invention is preferably formed of a moldedmaterial such as a plastic and includes two sections permanently sealedtogether to prevent moisture from entering the interior thereof.Suitable insulation, such as glass wool, may be disposed within theinterior of the partition.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel, removable partitionfor a refrigerator cabinet which may be quickly and easily inserted inand withdrawn from the cabinet, together with a novel supportingstructure having means cooperating with the partition for preventinginsertion of the partition into the cabinet beyond a predetermineddepth.

A further object of this invention is to provide a partition for arefrigerator cabinet adapted to support a pan beneath the partition andincluding means for preventing unintentional withdrawal 0f the partitionupon withdrawal of the pan from the cabinet and also including means forpreventing unintentional withdrawal of the pan completely from thepartition. g i

A further object of this invention is to provid a refrigerator partitionmade up of two sections adapted to support a crisper pan in which thepartition is constructed and arranged to distribute the load presentedby the pan to both sections of the partition.

These and further objects of this invention will Fig. 3 is an end viewof the support shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cabinet partition;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;i

Fig. 5A is a partially sectional view illustrating the details of themounting arrangement of the pan on the baffle;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the partition shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along theline 9-9 ofFig.4;

Fig, 10 is a side elevation of a crisper pan adapted to be mounted onthe partition element.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a refrigerator cabinet having an outer shellIll and an inner liner l2 spaced from the outer shell. Suitableinsulation such as rock wool may be disposed-between the outer shell andinner liner of the refrigerator. The inner shell defines upper and lowercompartments II and I6 respectively, separated by a partition or baflleIt. An evaporator 20 is positioned in compartment ll above. partitionl8, and compartment i6 is cooled by convection currents passing througha gap at the rear of the partition. That is to say, baflle IS inassembled relationship extends entirely from side wall to side wall ofthe cabinet but does not extendinwardly completely to the rear wall ofthe cabinet. The evaporator 20 may be operatively connected to anysuitable refrigerating system, not shown. A crisper pan I I is slidablymounted on partition II as hereafter more fully explained. Partition I8is slidably supported within the cabinet by means of a pair of supportmembers 24 and 26 secured to the side walls of the cabinet. Thesesupports are similar in all respects except that one is a left hand andthe other a right hand support.

be readily apparentfrom the accompanying de- One of the two similarsupports 24 and 26 is illustrated in Figs.- 2 and 3. The arrow in Figure2. designates the direction in which the partition travels in beinginserted into the cabinet. The

supports are preferably molded of plastic material and include avertical web 28 and a horizontel flange 30 formed integrally with theweb. Each support includes a raised boss 32 extending transversely ofthe horizontal flange adjacent one end of the flange. This boss isadapted to cooperate with a suitable slot and stop provided in the sidewall of battle it to limit the depth to which the baiile may be insertedand also to prevent unintential removal of the baffle from the cabinetas hereafter more fully explained. As further shown in Figs. 2 and 3,each baiile support includes an overhanging horizontal flange 36adjacent the opposite end of the support from the boss which togetherwith web 28 and horizontal flange 38 forms a C-shaped channel sectionadjacent one end of the support member to receive the forward end ofbaiile |8 as the bafi'le is inserted into the cabinet.

Details of bafile |8 are shown in Figs. 4 through 9. Referring to thesefigures, partition I8 is shown as including an upper section 42 and alower dished section 44 which are permanently assembled to provide amoisture proof partition having the suitable insulation within theinterior of the partition. As shown, section 42 includes an imperforatebase having raised surfaces 48 and 58 provided thereon and includes araised rim 52 extending completely around the periphery of the section.A downwardly turned flange 54 on rim 52 cooperates with a flange 56 onsection 44 to provide a moisture-proof seal between the two members.That is to say, flange 54 cooperates with horizontal flange t and avertical boss 5! formed on the upper edge of side wall 58 of the lowersection 44 to provide a water tight Joint between the two sections. Thejoint is preferably cemented with adhesive or solvent so that acontinuous bond is achieved. A continuous channel 53 extends betweenraised surfaces 48 and 58 .and between the outer periphery of each ofthe raised surfaces and rim 52 for collecting moisture and conductingthe same to a nozzle 58 formed in section 42 and extending downwardlythrough the partition to the underside of section 44.

In Fig. 5, section 44 is shown as including a downwardly extending stopmember 4| and an upwardly extending channel 43 formed in the bottom ofthe section and extending transversely of the side wall of the baiiie.It will, of course, be understood that similar stop members and channelsare provided at each side of the partition.

When the partition I8 is disposed in the cabinet upon supports 24 and26, the inner end of the partition is inserted into the C-shaped channelprovided adjacent the inner end of each support. Stop members 4| on thepartition contact a vertically extending web 33 (see Fig. 2) at theouter end of each support member, thereby limiting the depth to whichthe partition may be inserted into the cabinet. Boss 32, web 33, stop 4|and channel 43 are so positioned that when stop 4| strikes web 33, boss32 will be disposed in channel 43. Thus, upon inserting the partitioninto its supports, the depth to which the partition may be inserted isautomatically determined and when inserted to the proper depth thepartition is adapted to slidably support a pan which will often bewithdrawn from the partition at times when it is desirable that thepartition itself remain locked in the partition supports. In order toremove the partition from its supports it is necessary to raise theouter end of the partition so that channel 43 is clear of boss 32.

In Fig. 6, lower section 44 of partition I8 is shown as being providedwith a pair of downwardly extending guides or ribs 62 and 64 formedintegrally therewith and extending in a direction from the front to therear thereof. Also shown are a pair of support members 66 and 68 securedto the partition. Ribs 62 and 84 serve both to reinforce the partitionin a direction from front to rear and to cooperate with the inner wallsof the pan to prevent chatter when the pan is inserted and withdrawnfrom the supports 88 and 68. Supports 86 and 88 are each provided with araised stop member 10 and 12 respectively, which cooperate with asimilar stop I8 on each horizontal flange I5 of pan ll (shown in Fig.10) so that partial withdrawalof the pan is permitted but unintentionalcomplete withdrawal thereof is prevented. To completely withdraw the panfrom its supports, it is necessary to raise the inner end of the pan toa degree suflicient that stops |9 clear the stops I8 and 12.

Further details of partition I are shown in Figs. 8 and 9. As shown inFig. 8. section 42 of the partition is provided with a series of similarhollow bosses 88, preferably formed integrally with the upper sectionand extending inwardly into the interior of the partition. These bossesare spaced in rows extending from the front to the rear of the partitionand are adapted to receive a plurality of similar screws 82 extendingthrough lower section 44 to secure laterally spaced pan support members66 and 68 to the bottom of section 44. In this manner, the two sectionst2 and 44 are fastened together and any load imposed upon the partitionII is carried by and distributed across both the-upper and lowersections of the partition. Section 44 is further reinforced by means ofsimilar spaced ribs 84 formed integrally therewith and extendingtransversely from side to side of section 44 within the interior of thepartition.

In Fig. 9, the partition is shown as including a hollow nozzle 89extending downwardly from section 42 with the lower end of the nozzleprotruding through a hollow boss 98 formed in section 44. Nozzle 89permits condensation or other moisture such as that collected upondefrosting of evaporator 20 to be drained from channels 53 into pan Thejoint between nozzle 89 and boss 90 is preferably cemented with anadhesive or solvent to insure a continuous, moisture-proof bond betweenthe two sections forming the partition. A cavity 88 adapted to receivethe fingers of the hand is provided near the outer end of the partitionto provide a handle so that the baffle may be easily withdrawn from itssupports.

In Fig. 10 the pan includes similar vertical side walls I3, havingsimilar horizontal flanges l5 at the upper edge of each side wall. Astop member I9 is provided (adjacent the inner end of the pan) on theunder-surface of the horizontal flanges l5. Stops l9 cooperate withstops 18 and 12 of members 66 and 68 to prevent unintentional removal ofthe pan from its supports. Members I! act as wedges to raise the outerend of the pan upwardly so that ribs 62 and 64 extend within the panadjacent th inner edges of side walls l3. In order to remove pan II fromits supports, it is necessary to raise the inner end of the pan so thatstops 12 and 14 clear stops l9. Due to the shape of the respectivestops,

pan I may easily be inserted within the supports 86 and 68, but cannotbe entirely withdrawn from the supports without tilting the pan toprovide clearance for the stops.

The association of one of the horizontal flan ges l5 of pan II andsupport 58 together with stop IS in assembled relationship is furtherillustrated in Fig. 5A, in which the same numbers refer to the samedetails as shown in Figs. 6 and 10.

By this construction there has been provided a baiiie for a refrigeratorwhich may be molded of plastic material and produced economically inlarge volume. The baille, though relatively thin, is strong and isarranged so that any load imposed upon the bafile is distributed to bothsections of the baflle. The guide means supporting the baiile locks thepartition against accidental removal due to the withdrawal of thecrisper pan supported upon the partition. The partition also carriesstops for preventing unintentional Withdrawal of the crisper pan fromthe baille. Although the partition is preferably formed of moldedsections, it will readily be understood that it may be formed of a pairof stamped rather than molded sections.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been disclosed anddescribed, it will readily be understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a refrigerator cabinet having an evaporator positioned in theupper portion thereof, a support member on each of two walls of saidcabinet, a partition slidably positioned on said support membersdividing said cabinet into upper and lower compartments, 8. stop on oneof said support members, a stop on said partition cooperating with saidflrst-mentioned stop for limiting the depth to which said partition maybe inserted in said cabinet, a raised boss on one of said supportmembers, and a channel in said partition cooperating with said boss forpreventing unintentional removal of said partition from said cabinet.

2. In a refrigerator cabinet having an evaporator positioned in theupper portion thereof, a support member on-each of two walls of saidcabinet, a partition slidably positioned on said support membersdividing said cabinet into upper and lower compartments, a stop on oneof said support members, a stop on said partition cooperating with saidfirst-mentioned stop for limitin the depth to which said partition maybe inserted in said cabinet, a raised boss on one of said supportmembers, a channel in said partition cooperating with said boss forpreventing unintentional sliding movement of said partition on saidsupports, a pair of spaced rails on said partition, a pan havinghorizontal flanges engaging said rails, a stop on one of said rails anda stop on one of said flanges cooperatingwith said rail stop forpreventing unintentional removal of said pan completely from said rails.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet havin an evaporator positioned in the upperportion thereof, a support member on each of two walls of said cabinet,a partition slidably positioned on said support members dividing saidcabinet into upper and lower compartments in restricted airflowrelationship, a stop on one of said support members, a downwardlyextending stop formed integrally with said partition cooperating withsaid first-mentioned stop for limiting the depth towhich said partitionmay be inserted in said cabinet, a channel on the under side of saidpartition, a raised boss formed integrally on one of said supports andextending transversely across said support, said channel and downwardlyextending stop being so arranged that said boss extends into saidchannel upon contact of said stop with said first-mentioned support stopwhereby unintentional removal of said partition from said cabinet isprevented.

4. In a refrigerator cabinet having an evaporator positioned in theupper portion thereof, a support member on each of two walls of saidcabinet, a partition slidably positioned on said support members dividinsaid cabinet into upper and lower compartments in restricted airflowrelationship, a stop on one of said support members, a downwardlyextending stop formed integrally with said partition cooperating withsaid first-mentioned stop for limiting the depth to which said partitionmay be inserted in said cabinet, a channel on the under side of saidpartition, a raised boss formed integrally upon one of said supports,said channel and boss being adapted to lock said partition againstsliding movement upon contact of said partition and support stopmembers, a pair of rails on the under side of said partition, stopmembers on said rails, a pan having horizontal flanges adapted tooverlie said rails, and wedge-shaped members on the under-surface ofsaid horizontal flanges, said last-mentioned members providing a contactsurface with said rails and cooperating with rail stops to preventaccidental removal of said pan completely from said rails.

5. In a refrigerator cabinet having an evaporator positioned in theupper portion thereof, support members on each of two vertical walls ofsaid cabinet, a partition dividing said cabinet into upper and lowercompartments in restricted airflow relationship slidably positioned onsaid supports, said supports having a vertical web, a

horizontal flange contacting the bottom of said partition, and ahorizontal flange on the top of said vertical web extending partiallyalong said web forming a c-shaped channel for receiving the inner end ofsaid partition, a raised boss on said first-mentioned horizontal flangeextending transversely thereto, a downwardly extendin stop member onsaid supports adjacent said boss, an inwardly extending channel and adownwardly extending stop on said partition,said boss and said channelbeing positioned to prevent accidental movement of said partition uponcontact of said stop members.

JOHN W. NORRISH.

ALFRED E. NAVE.

REFERENCES orrEn The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number, Name Date 2,194,177 Rundell Mar. 19, 19402,353,361 Rosebrook July 11, 1944 2,425,02l Anderson Aug. 5, 19472,450,305 Shoemaker Sept. 28, 1948

